Friday, February 08, 2013

MEASAT launches new satellite for Central Asia, Europe & Africa

Malaysia’s MEASAT Satellite Systems announced today the successful launch of the AZERSPACE-1 / AFRICASAT-1a satellite, designed to provide high powered communications services across Central Asia, Europe and Africa .

The USD300m satellite was developed in collaboration between MEASAT and Azercosmos Joint Stock Company (“Azercosmos”), a company set up by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

“We are delighted with the successful launch of this new satellite which is the result of three years of collaboration between Azercosmos and MEASAT,” said YABhg. Tun Dr. Hj. Mohammed Hanif bin Omar, Director of MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. “We thank the Malaysian Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture; the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission; and, the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies for their active support, without which this project would not have happened.”

“The commissioning of the AFRICASAT-1a satellite into commercial operations will expand MEASAT’s coverage into new markets across Africa and the Middle East in support of Malaysian government and business interests,” said Paul Brown-Kenyon, MEASAT’s Chief Executive Officer. “The launch of the satellite is part of an ongoing programme to expand MEASAT’s satellite fleet which will see the launch of three (3) new satellites worth USD1bn over a three (3) year period.”

Over the next few days, the AZERSPACE-1 / AFRICASAT-1a satellite will be raised from a geo-transfer orbit into a geostationary orbit. The satellite will then undergo testing for approximately one month, prior to being brought into commercial operations at the Malaysian 46.0°E orbital slot. 
 
(Source : ABU)

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